Suisun voters must pass Measure S to maintain and improve Public Safety and Public Works. A Yes vote ensures the level of service of our police and fire departments. It would also help keep city hall staffed and providing the vital services that we all deserve.
It's important to understand how we got here. It's not just a Suisun City problem. Small cities nationwide have struggled due to the Great Recession and the Covid pandemic. The other challenge we have in Suisun is that our revenue per capita is the lowest of the seven cities in Solano County. Our per capita revenue in Suisun is less that half that of Fairfield and one third of Benicia. Most of Suisun's tax revenue comes from property taxes. We just don't have the retail capacity due to being landlocked, and having a lack of developable property.
Sales tax is relatively progressive, meaning that those with higher incomes pay a higher relative share of the total sales tax. This is because most necessities such as rent/mortgage, most utilities, most groceries, most medical expenses and most services, are exempt from sales tax. Those with lower incomes spend a higher percent of their incomes on those exempt items. If we pass Measure S the investment per household based on half of your total sales tax being paid within Suisun, is only $107 a year.
A Vote for Measure S is a vote for our quality of life.
Garry Rowe
Former Suisun City planning commissioner